On Thursday I got my shot against the Swine Flu. Some moths ago, I was thinking that I wouldn’t bother – because I haven’t had a cold in 1½ years – but then I gave it a second thinking over. With 20% of my lungs gone and having had pneumonia twice (before I quit smoking in July 2007) I figured that maybe this was a good idea. I do meet hundreds of children every day and even if I wouldn’t get severely ill myself, I could certainly spread the disease to others. During the last few weeks I’ve followed the stories in media about the vaccinations, about people who got/didn’t get the shot and became ill, any and all side effects, line-ups and people complaining.
Here’s a sampling of what I’ve heard/read/seen…
This county has a population of less than 3500 and only one health care clinic – despite that, there were people complaining about the “horrendous line-up” on Thursday. Say what? This was the second day for risk groups getting their shot – how many could there actually have been there?
Some time ago it was disclosed that the vaccine contains Mercury (micrograms as a preservative in each dose) which made a lot of people decide to not get inoculated. Right. The same people will eat fish from the Gulf of Bothnia without even thinking about the levels of Mercury in that fish. Go figure.
There is a story going around here, that there is a turbo-action added to the vaccine. As the story goes, the same thing was done to a vaccine given to soldiers going to Iraq and there is now talk that this is what causes the Iraq Syndrome – not actually being deployed there. (My apologies to American readers – I may not have all of the facts correct here, I’m just relating what I’ve heard.)
People my age (57) and older feel that they don’t need to take the shot since they were exposed to the flu during the 50’s and 60’s… Correct – excepting the fact that we were a lot younger then…
A physician who looks after one of our better hockey teams gave all of the players the vaccine ahead of time. He claimed they were all in a risk group since they meet players from other cities on a regular basis…
People who have planned holidays in Thailand over Christmas can’t understand why they can’t get inoculated before Mildred, 72 years old with asthma and a heart condition….
They are being extremely selective here, too. One of the teachers in my room who has a 6 month old was given the shot because she is a caregiver to an infant under a year, but then, two weeks later, her husband was refused the shot.
I was planning to get it, and make all my kids get it, but now, even though they are college kids, none of us are considered high risk, not even my 18 year old and I, with asthma. (The only reason I worry is that I have a high predilection for pneumonia every winter…)
So, I guess I am glad for anyone who has been able to get the shot, especially the young and the old and the ill, and will just hope for the best for the rest of us. And, I have turned my hands into dried out prunes by using the antibacterial hand sanitizer a hundred times a day! If only all the little kids in our classroom would learn to “Cover that cough; cover that sneeze.” (And if ONLY parents would not send kids back a day after they have been ill – could you please give them a day or two to recover completely, and keep all their ucky germs at home with you???!!!)
Comment by Laurie — November 8, 2009 @ 10:17 pm
There sure are a lot of rumors out there!
I personally trust the researchers and doctors on this one, and I believe that those who are more likely to become severely ill should get it before the rest of the population.
I’ve signed the paperwork for my kids to get the shot but there is a shortage and it hasn’t happened yet. In the meantime, I am watching everyone in my family very closely for signs of the flu, especially fevers. My 18yo tried to get out of turning in the paperwork (and he is old enough to sign his own forms) but my husband & I talked some sense into his head. It helped that a man at church last week told about his co-worker’s son: seemingly healthy and playing basketball on Tuesday night but dead on Friday (and that child had no underlying health issues).
Wishing you much good health!!
Comment by kcinnova — November 9, 2009 @ 12:27 am
There is really no vaccine to be had in my neighborhood–though they say that will change soon.
Comment by Jenn @ Juggling Life — November 9, 2009 @ 5:37 am
Yes, it does seem a sensible decision you have made given your medical history and working environment.
I am not sure what I will do. I am not prone to respiratory infections and am not in a high risk group.
They are talking about vaccinating all 10-18 (maybe up to 24) year olds here but as far as I know nothing has actually happened about it. My youngest has asthma so I presume should be called as a high – risk category (he attends an asthma clinic) but has not yet been called. I will definitely have him vaccinated.
I will think about the rest of us when vaccine becomes available and I’ve had more time to look at some of the data. On the basis of the little I have read so far my inclination is to go for vaccination.
Comment by Reluctant Blogger — November 9, 2009 @ 3:42 pm